tend to lose their influence, and the result
is involuntary gradual backsliding.”
From
It is possible to listen, but not truly
hear. The Book of Hebrews is a call for
Christians to commit to fully hear the
NEGLECT
message of truth. God wants our undi-
vided attention.
to RUIN
I was in revival in Mississippi when
a tragedy happened in the community.
A man had accidentally backed his truck
by Ron M. Phillips
over his 4-year-old daughter, killing
her. It was an accident, but one caused
by neglect. At the funeral, it was heart-
wrenching to watch the man’s agony.
The man did not know Christ, and
had rejected previous opportunities to
accept salvation. After the funeral, the
man cried to his pastor, “There could be
no greater neglect than what I did to my
child.” The preacher responded, “No, sir,
you are wrong. Your own soul is in peril
if you continue to run from Christ.”
Woe to the individual who neglects
salvation, and to the Christian who takes
the precious gift lightly. Let us be care-
ful to praise Him continually for “such a
T
HE WHOLE WORLD is a battle- “Sometimes I feel the whole church is great salvation” (Hebrews 2:3, NIV).
field covered with wrecks occa- deaf!” Christians should be most atten-
sioned by neglect,” said George tive to the truths of the gospel. Griffith Ron M. Phillips is senior pastor of Abba’s
Truett. Indeed, all of us have wit- Thomas said, “With familiarity, truths House in Hixson, Tennessee.
nessed the ruin of some neglected build-
ing. Anyone visiting Nashville, Tennessee,
would be able to tour The Hermitage, the
beautifully kept mansion of former Presi- THE KEYS TO ETERNAL LIFE
dent Andrew Jackson. However, many
years ago I visited Jackson’s other former
CHRIST PAID for our salvation with His death on the cross, but for us to accept
home in Natchez, Mississippi, and was
this gift is as simple as using these keys to unlock the door:
sad to see that old antebellum home in
disrepair. Stepping on the porch of that
Acknowledge you have sinned
neglected mansion, we had to kill a snake
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth
to proceed through the front door!
is not in us” (1 John 1:8).* “For all have sinned and fall short of the
The most dangerous type of neglect,
glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
however, is spiritual. Hebrews 2:1 warns,
“We must give the more earnest heed to
Believe in Jesus
the things we have heard, lest we drift
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). “For
away” (NKJV).
God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that who-
Warren Wiersbe told about a man in
ever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Leeds, England, who wore a hearing aid
for years. Upon his visit to a new doc-
Confess and renounce your sin
tor, the physician removed the hearing “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your
aid, and the man’s hearing immediately
heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans
improved! He had been wearing it in the
10:9). “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us
wrong ear for 20 years!
our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Another pastor was asked if he had a *Scriptures are from the New International Version.
deaf ministry in his church. He replied,
24 EVANGEL • MAR 2010
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